Ocean Youth Aotearoa
What is Ocean Youth?
What is Ocean Youth?
An 8-day programme delivered across two weeks (Mon-Thurs) for students aged 13-16 years.
Ocean Youth is supporting young people to learn how to make, and influence, positive action for our ocean.
We will unlock new and innovative thinking and collaborations, foster tomorrow’s change makers and enable empowered community led action.
Participants will establish connections with like-minded individuals, be educated on threats in their own backyard, be empowered to create and implement conservation initiatives in their own communities and be exposed to career pathways
Ocean Youth Aotearoa is made possible with support from Kelly Tarlton’s Marine Wildlife Trust and WWF-NZ.
Programme Details
A 8-day programme delivered Monday-Thursday across two weeks
- Monday 13th – Thursday 16th January (no Friday session)
- Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd January (no Friday session)
Price for participation: $560 for 8 days ($70 per day) + Humanitix $32.76 booking fee
Programme Overview
|
2025 Dates |
Venue |
Overview |
|
Monday 13th January Drop off 8:30-9:00 Pick up 4:00-4:30 |
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s |
Introductory day - whakawhānaungatanga (relationship building) including behind-the-scenes tours of SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s including fish feeding, and virtual reality experience. |
|
Tuesday 14th January Drop off 8:30-9:00 Pick up 4:00-4:30 |
Waiheke Island |
Introduction to the Waiheke Marine Project, snorkels at Enclosure Bay, kina removal |
|
Wednesday 15th January Drop off 8:30-9:00 Pick up 4:00-4:30 |
Goat Island/Matheson Bay |
Snorkelling at Goat Island and Matheson Bay, introduction to the Te Kohuroa Rewilding Project |
|
Thursday 16th January Drop off 8:30-9:00 Pick up 4:00-4:30 |
Ti Point |
Visit the home of the Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust and learn about their conservation efforts and research programs. Visit the home of the Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust and the Leigh Penguin Project and learn about their conservation efforts and research programs. |
|
Friday 17th January |
No programme |
Wet weather contingency day |
|
Monday 20th January Drop off 10:30-11:00 Pick up 6:00-6:30 |
Hauraki Gulf- Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari |
Four-hour boat ride to learn about whales and dolphins of the Hauraki Gulf |
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Tuesday 21st January Drop off 8:30-9:00 Pick up 4:00-4:30 |
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s |
Conservation of sharks and rays in the Hauraki Gulf presentation and activity, optional volunteer afternoon at Kelly Tarlton’s |
|
Wednesday 22nd January Drop off 8:30-9:00 Pick up 4:00-4:30 |
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s |
Project Workshop Day: plan a project that may be implemented in student’s communities or schools to promote conservation in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana |
|
Thursday 23rd January Drop off 8:30-9:00 Pick up 4:00-4:30 |
SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s |
Project presentations and awards |
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Friday 24th January |
No programme |
|
FAQ's
Young people aged 13-17 years
For young people aged 8-12 years old we recommend the Explorers Programme delivered by our friends Young Ocean Explorers
https://www.youngoceanexplorers.com/explorers/
Ocean Youth Aotearoa is an 8 day programme across 2 weeks where young people will forge relationships and work on a project idea to take back to their community. Unfortunately there is no single-day option.
The programme has been designed to start and finish at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s each day to provide a consistent location for drop off and pick up.
A 1:6 ratio with 3 facilitators and 18 participants. During higher risk activities such as snorkelling the ratio increases.
Yes, we use the NZ Police Vetting service. Our team of facilitators are trained first-aiders, and where driving occurs this will be under a full driver’s license. The snorkel activities are run by qualified instructors from licensed providers.
All we ask is that participants can swim, as there are two snorkel days in the programme. These will be fully led by qualified instructors.
Ocean Youth includes two snorkel days. We recommend you can comfortably tread water for 2 minutes and swim from one end of a standard pool to the other and back.
No, all equipment will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.
Sea temperatures in January range from 17 to 22 degrees celsius and wetsuits will be provided. You will need to bring your swimwear, a towel and something warm for afterwards.
Auckland weather is unpredictable, so bring an outer layer that can deal with rain and a bit of cold weather. A hat is also recommended.
Definitely. We have a variety of partners with different careers and skills who will be leading different days on the programme. We will have Q&A sessions with these partners at the end of each day, so you can learn how they got into their job, and what you can do to achieve the same goal.
A backpack with your food and drink bottle for the day along with suitable footwear and clothing. Swimwear and towel for the days involving snorkelling, and sunscreen.
A laptop to use on days 1, 6, 7 and 8 but this is not essential if you don't have one
